I don’t have a birth certificate because i was born in Yankee Stadium.

I really like this episode. Our three plots:

1. Jack learns Frank was going to go to law school, so he helps him realize his dream after they watch “Harry and the Hendersons” together. But then he learns all of Frank’s relatives were mob lawyers, so he has to let Frank go, just like the Hendersons let go of Harry.

2. Liz befriends a pregnant teen so she can adopt her baby. Jack’s “Harry and the Hendersons” metaphor helps her realize she can’t stay between this girl and her boyfriend.

3. Kenneth throws Jenna a birthday party but makes it a co-party between Jenna and Tracy because Tracy has never had one. Jenna fakes injuries to get attention and no one notices. Tracy’s birthday wish is secretly for Jenna to get better and she is touched. #friends

Like I said, I like all these plots but what I really want to talk about is this:

JOSH. WHERE DID YOU COME FROM.

WHAT.

LIKE. HOW DID THIS CONVERSATION EVEN GO.

“IT WOULD BE GREAT IF JOSH WAS THERE.”

“JOSH …. OH MY GOD, WE FORGOT JOSH IS ON THIS SHOW.”

AND JOSH WAS JUST LIKE.

“IT’S COOL YOU GUYS FORGOT ABOUT ME, WHATEVER.”

I mean, it’s not that weird for minor characters to flit in and out, and this really isn’t as bad as anything that happens on “The West Wing” (#DannyConcannon #noonelikedMandyanyway) but they don’t even mention that he hasn’t shown up in an episode since “MILF Island.”

(While googling this, I found an Atlantic article from 2009 called “The Fall of 30 Rock.” In one of the first paragraphs it refers to season three as weak, so I stopped reading.)

(OK I kept reading and it raised some interesting points that I will discuss in the future.)

(The most relevant point for this post is that the author mentions that they drop the adoption plotline in season 3, which they totally do, so it’s sort of weird for it to come back here.)

If Mark Brendanawicz shows up in the final season of “Parks and Rec” I will be so pissed.

Bits & Pieces

Patti LuPone is Frank’s mother. Of course.

Also, it’s amazing how Jack-like Frank ends up looking.

For a second, I thought this was Cris Chros and was really confused.

All the writers’ (and Josh’s) dads have what they tell people their sons do:

Toofer – surgeon

Josh – optometrist

Lutz – died

Frank tells himself he’s a space assassin.

Best Jenna one-liner: My heart goes out to all those inner city kids, especially those too fat to dance their way out.

Liz’s idea of bad music is Biz Markie and the Doors. Oh Liz.

Pete tries to convince Liz to let the teens work it out amongst themselves because that’s how he and Paula got together. BUT BY THE END OF THE SERIES HE FAKES HIS OWN DEATH TO GET AWAY FROM HER, RUINING ANY SENTIMENT THESE ANECDOTES COULD HAVE.

Tracy decries his birthday wish as “Malarkey.” Tracy is Joe Biden.

Though Liz implies using the story of “Harry and the Hendersons” to give her advice is crazy, Jack gave good advice this episode. Good job, Jack.

John Lithgow doesn’t know they changed the spelling of Syfy.

Pregnant teen Becca’s song is amazing to me.

Hints that Kenneth is immortal/mystical/terrifying: He thinks Tracy’s birthday wish was for a new Robocop. We got a new Robocop this year. Coincidence?

Like this:

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